Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada
The 2010 Story Save Quilt

Pearl Ann Gooding, Wainwright, AB Undaunted Enchantments

This year I was the Artistic. Director of a Faerie Tale project through TALES Edmonton and felt inspired to carry my passion of the 'old’ tales onto the Story.Save Quilt.

I started a faerie tale quilt of my own about 10 years ago and have never finished it as I am always working or a wedding, baby, birthday, church service, community, Christmas, TALES, or StorySave Quilt for someone else. It gave me a real sense of completion as I took the female faerie tale characters and just made a smaller version of my big quilt into a single block.

I love the strength of the women in the older tales when they were not supposed to have thoughts or inspirations of their own. How they broke through barriers and overcame mountains of obstacles to give females, young and old, a sense of worth and control. I have used a machine applique' method to give detail and enhancements to the figures. I love that each character is easily identified without the aid of props, clothing or ever hair. The only character given hair in this design is Rapunzel as her hair sweeps throughout the block gathering and protecting each of the other characters. It was important to me to capture the essence and beauty of all women in every culture and so each of the figures are different skin color. I began drawing figures in my grade 8 Art class and years after I had grown up, my teacher remembered me specifically for my figure drawings. I drew, sketched, charcoaled, and painted figures, playing with light and shadow and for years sold many original pieces, It is funny that after 30 years, I still have not out-grown my love for the figures and beauty of the human body. I hope that this block brings enjoyment to the eye and inspires creativity in development of your own telling of the old faerie tales.